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2 people
Pedro Albizu Campos
Although born in Ponce, Albizu Campos spent part of his childhood in the Aguirre area of Salinas. He became one of Puerto Rico's most influential political leaders and served as president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. He was born on September 12, 1891 in Tenerias Village, Ponce. The son of Alejandro Albizu and Juana Campos. He was the nephew of Juan Morel Campos. Terrorist to his enemies and critics, hero to the most fervent Puerto Rican nationalist. After service in an African-American unit during World War I he developed a lasting enmity for the United States and became the fiery champion of Puerto Rican independence. Educated at Harvard (BS 1916, LL B 1923), he joined the Nationalist Party in 1924 and was the most prominent "independentista" of his time.
In 1930, he was elected president of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico. Convicted of seeking to overthrow the U.S. government, he was imprisoned (1937-43) before returning to Puerto Rico in 1947. His party made a poor showing in the 1948 election. He masterminded a nationalist attack to the governor's mansion in Puerto Rico and was accused of being behind the October 31, 1950, assassination attempt on President Truman at Blair House in Washington. After he was sentenced to prison for 53 years, Governor Luis Muñoz Marín offered him a conditional pardon in 1953, but withdrew it after the nationalist attack on the U.S. House of Representatives the next year. Campos spent his final years in prison. While in prison, he claimed that he was the subject of human radiation experiments. He suffered a stroke in 1956 and was again pardoned in 1964. Died in Hato Rey, on April 21, 1965.
Juan Antonio Corretjer
Born March 3, 1908 in Ciales, Juan Antonio Corretjer was a poet, essayist, journalist, and political activist whose literary and political work became closely associated with Puerto Rican identity and the independence movement.
In 1920, when he was only 12 years old, Corretjer wrote his first poem "Canto a Ciales" (My song to Ciales). In 1924, he published his first booklet of poems. In 1927, he worked as a journalist for several newspapers and publications in Puerto Rico, Cuba and the U.S. He travelled to New York, Cuba, Haiti and Dominican Republic to endorse other political groups opposed to U.S. dominion and look for support for Puerto Rico's independance movement. In 1929, he returns to Puerto Rico and soon after, in 1930 he met Pedro Albizu Campos and joins him to work with the Nationalist Party. He was named the Administrative Secretary of the Nationalist Party. Since then, he became a faithfull figther for nationalism. Corretjer was jailed several times because of his political views and activities.
During his reclusion he authored several publications: "Amor de Puerto Rico" and "Cántico de Guerra" (Song of War), both published in 1937.
During his long carrier he published several books of poems: "Agüeybana" (1932), "Versos al Mar de un Hombre de Tierra Adentro" (1933), "El Leñero" (Timberman; 1944), "Imagen de Borinquen: Los Primeros Años" (1950), "Tierra Nativa" (Native Land; 1951), "Alabanza en la Torre de Ciales" (1953), "Yerba Bruja" (Bewitched Grass; 1957) and many more.
In 1978, the Institute of Culture published "Obras Completas", Volume I. He died on January 19, 1985 in San Juan.
